Abu Dhabi to attract more Indian tourists

Abu Dhabi, Aug 26 (IANS/WAM) With Indian visitors emerging as the largest number of international hotel guests in the United Arab Emirates over the past year, Abu Dhabi's tourism industry has launched a five-city road show in India aimed at keeping the destination foremost in the minds of Indians travelling abroad.

The Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA) has organised a road show Aug 25-29 across the Indian cities of Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai and New Delhi.

About 14 Abu Dhabi tourism stakeholders, including Etihad Airways and Yas Island hotels have joined the road show.

In the first six months of this year, as many as 107,995 Indian guests checked into Abu Dhabi's hotels and resorts - a growth of 35 percent over the same period last year.

"The destination is benefiting from excellent air uplift from India at the moment with our national airline, Etihad Airways and its partner Jet Airways, providing convenient and quick travel options to Abu Dhabi from tier-1 and tier- 2 cities all over the country," said Mubarak Al Nuaimi, director of promotions and overseas offices at TCA Abu Dhabi.

Presently, Etihad Airways operates 112 flights per week from ten Indian destinations to United Arab Emirates (UAE) capital Abu Dhabi.

"We anticipate further consumer interest coming for the destination with the release this October of the much-anticipated Bollywood movie 'Bang Bang', starring Hrithik Roshan and Katrina Kaif, parts of which were shot in Abu Dhabi," Al Nuaimi said.

Indian weddings have also been actively pursued by Abu Dhabi stakeholders.

The iconic Yas Viceroy - the only hotel in the world possessing an F1 race track - has successfully handled three huge Indian weddings over the past few years.

"We also expect our profile in India to rise with the opening of Sanjeev Kapoor's restaurant Signature in the Nation Towers on Abu Dhabi Corniche," he added.

The Al Ain Zoo has also recorded a surge in Indian travellers with its special discounted family packages and its Asian Month event - an Indian traditions themed month.

"The Indian market is huge in the UAE now in terms of tourists and residents," Al Ain Zoo's director general Ghanim Mubarak Al Hajeri said.

Indian travellers enjoy family life and spend handsomely on entertainment, Al Hajeri noted.

The UAE is also home to around two million expatriate Indians.

--IANS/WAM

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